Pope Francis Excommunicates Dissident Priest in Australia (33468)

MELBOURNE, Australia — Pope Francis has ordered the excommunication of a Catholic priest in Australia who illicitly offered Mass, taught that women should be ordained priests and advocated for redefining marriage to include homosexual couples.

An Archdiocese of Melbourne spokesman said the Pope had ordered the excommunication of Father Greg Reynolds, who has also been dismissed from the clerical state, according to the Australian Associated Press.

Australian newspaper The Age reported that Archbishop Denis Hart of Melbourne said the excommunication was due to the priest’s public celebration of Mass without faculties to do so and his preaching contrary to the teachings of the Church.

The letter announcing the penalty, written in Latin, was dated May 31.

Excommunication is a canonical penalty intended to warn and correct those who commit grave offenses against the Church. Priests who are excommunicated may not receive or celebrate the sacraments.

Reynolds said he expected to be dismissed from the clerical state but did not expect to be excommunicated. He said he was told that Archbishop Hart did not apply for the dismissal from the clerical state, but that someone else contacted the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

Reynolds had resigned as a parish priest in the Archdiocese of Melbourne in 2011. He founded a group called “Inclusive Catholics” the following year, and he has indicated he will continue his work with the group.

In August 2012, a visitor to the group’s woman-led religious service reportedly fed “consecrated bread” to his dog. Media reports at the time were unclear whether the bread was in fact the holy Eucharist, as the priest’s involvement in the service was minimal. However, the reports led Archbishop Hart to say such a sacrilege of the Blessed Sacrament would be an “abomination.”

The Catholic Church requires priests to have faculties, or the approval of Church authorities, to celebrate Mass licitly. Catholic teaching is that women cannot be ordained priests for ecclesial reasons, because Christ did not grant the Church authority to do so.

Several individuals who have participated in the simulated “ordination” of women have been excommunicated.

Comments

There are many different kinds of leadership. I am a woman who is opposed to women’s ordination, because this is a political movement. As someone said, that if God wants you to be somewhere, nothing on earth, will keep you and if God does not, nothing on earth with get you in.

This door is not being opened because God does not want it opened.

Please tell me what do you want a priest for?

Posted by John Bilbee on Saturday, Oct 19, 2013 11:22 AM (EDT):

So what’s the story , are we allowed to judge or not allowed to judge?

Posted by Don Schenk on Friday, Oct 18, 2013 10:00 AM (EDT):

Aside from the theological reasons why only men could serve “in persona Christi”, there’s the fact that women have been pushing men out of the Church for years (e.g., “inclusive language”) and what has that gotten the Church but the feeling, in many countries, that Church is only for women and children?

Posted by little flower on Thursday, Oct 17, 2013 12:09 AM (EDT):

If women are called to the priestood (as only they would know), let them answer the call. Be joyful, even!! It is arrogant of others to deny them answering their call. Women must use their resources (financial and time) to back all supporters of womenpriests and leadership (true servant leaders) in the church.

Women have always done a majority of the heavy lifting in schools and church work and service in the church. We will build a better church when we expand to leadership roles. Just a matter of time. A very special thanks to the males who have joined in the cause!

God bless.

Posted by savvy on Sunday, Oct 13, 2013 8:18 PM (EDT):

Maria Malking,

I apologize if I came across as harsh in my previous post. Jesus is the son of God. A son is male, a daughter is female. Hence, a priest who acts in the person of Christ must be male.

Jesus spoke about excommunication here.

Matthew 18:15-17

The book of Galatians says that we are equal in Christ, but it does not call for abolishing gender.

The priest in question was also running his own church, he was in a state of formal schism.

Posted by savvy on Friday, Oct 11, 2013 10:13 PM (EDT):

cthlc12345,

Women’s ordination is a theological not a moral issue. Do not lump it in with the rest.

Posted by Scampy22 on Friday, Oct 11, 2013 2:25 PM (EDT):

Regardless of what this cleric thinks or does not think, his sin is in DISOBEDIENCE to Mother Church, his Pope and Bishops. This action is the reason for his public condemnation. The problem is that there are many Catholics whom assume they can be Disobedient to their Superiors in Religion because of cultural, political or invalid viewpoints. As a cleric the person knows that he is under obedience and this is absolute and cannot be put aside in the Church. In similar fashion the SSPX and others for example are disobedient and scandalise Mother Church for the sake of their own petty views.
I am greatly cheered by the excommunication of erroneous clerics. Let us Pray that Pope Francis will now correct publically others that harm the Church in their self willed disobedience to its requests.

Posted by cthlc12345 on Thursday, Oct 10, 2013 5:18 PM (EDT):

It’s great to see the backbone on the Pope in this case.
There should also be numerous excommunications of “Catholic” politicians who are on record as voting for abortion, euthanasia, non-traditional marriage, and embryonic stem cell policies.

Posted by savvy on Tuesday, Oct 8, 2013 10:10 PM (EDT):

Maria Makiling,

I appreciate your thoughts, but is it possible for you to see the Gospel without your own politics. The sacraments should not be treated like peace and justice issues. They are different.

You cannot politicize everything or tell people how to worship based on your politics.

What do you want a priest for?

Posted by jmw on Tuesday, Oct 1, 2013 10:11 PM (EDT):

Something about millstones and being cast into the sea comes to mind.

Posted by fernanda rodrigues on Monday, Sep 30, 2013 1:10 PM (EDT):

There’s too much confusion today as bishops and priests seem to go their arbitrary way, It is good that Pope Francis is clearing up matters in the media.

Posted by Don Schenk on Friday, Sep 27, 2013 9:44 AM (EDT):

Two things about sinning priests, for those who harp on them:

1.) As Billy Graham’s magazine “Christianity Today” pointed out, Protestants shouldn’t pretend that they don’t have this problem: it’s just that, as Philip Jenkins book “Priests and Pedophiles” (Oxford University Press) pointed out, while the problem is just as, if not more, common with ministers, that fact doesn’t fir the media’s agenda.

2.) 4/5ths of the accused priests were accused of the homosexual seduction of a teenager, and this mainly happened while the media was promoting that sin. (“Personal Best” with Mariel Hemmingway, and “Mass Appeal” with Jack Lemmon.)

Posted by Maria Makiling on Friday, Sep 27, 2013 5:37 AM (EDT):

I thought the Church is on to a new beginning of true justice with Pope Francis. How can we have a true just and one body of Christ when we preach exclusivism? That only men - just about half of the Church body - has the exclusive right to represent Christ? Didn’t Paul say in Galatians that there is no more gentile or Jew, no more male or female, no more master or slaves—the dualism of the time of the Jews and patriachs during the Roman empire? Why are we back do the old ages? To the time of the Pharisees? Where in the Bible did our Lord Jesus Christ preach excommunication? And what about the priests who sinned against young boys? There have been almost 2,000 priest sex offenders and the Church had to shell more than 2 billion dollars to pay off their victims. Didn’t they more than deserve the severest possible penalty? May God have mercy on us. <)))><

Posted by K.C.Thomas on Friday, Sep 27, 2013 1:29 AM (EDT):

Let us not csll them “priests” ’ They seem to have had hidden agenda when they joined seminary. Otherwise how can ,even as an ordinary person,think of abortion,gay sex etc as permissible ? God only knows how their conscience works ! Satan csn do such things.

Posted by Angie Moore on Friday, Sep 27, 2013 1:28 AM (EDT):

I support wholeheartedly the Pope’s decision! This should be a fair warning to the politicians and all those who go against Catholic teachings and Biblical teachings regarding homosexuality and women in the priesthood as well as important Pro-Life! Amen!! Thank You Pope Francis for having the courage to take this stance!

Posted by Adam Morris on Thursday, Sep 26, 2013 4:59 PM (EDT):

This is tragically the situation across Australia. The Australian priesthood is in a state of crisis and needs reform. There are many who have girlfriends and boyfriends - supporting anything contrary to the church’s official teaching is not really that surprising. My prayer is that priests with courage would speak out about this culture and support the leadership in addressing it.

Posted by Terah James on Thursday, Sep 26, 2013 4:46 PM (EDT):

Yes, Pope Francis did do the correct thing in this case. I’m glad he spoke out, and also with his actions, sent a message of no-tolerance for violating God’s word.

This priest can go to an Apostate Church of his choice, there are many from which to choose. Sadly, he is not the only one in union with Rome, and who are false teachers. To this point…

“Posted by Michel Lhombreaud on Thursday, Sep 26, 2013 9:19 AM (EDT):
My question is: how can someone whose vocation to the priesthood must have been genuine turns up to be ill-equiped to discern lies from the truth? I think the irresponsibility of Bishops, worldly seminaries and so-called enlightened theologians contributed to the corruption of Father Reynolds soul.”

I think there are many men that enter a seminary, for reasons OTHER than that they are called. Men like them are not preaching and teaching God’s word. They are spreading their own agenda, and those that listen to them do so at their own peril. They will be responsible for leading many astray, and the Bible says it’s better to have a millstone around ones neck and be thrown into the sea, than to mislead one of God’s little ones (we are all His little ones…)

But in the developed countries, we all have access to God’s word (the Bible) we can read it, without fear of punishment, and we either accept what it says (all of it, in context and in its fullness) or we reject it. It’s our choice.

This priest and the Apostate churches like the “Evangelical Catholic Church” will be there, to assist dissenters from God’s word, on their road to Hell, keeping them company. Some issues are black and white: not grey. And all the Bible believing Christian denominations would join hands in saying that same sex unions are not compatible with God’s word, and women are not to be ‘priests’.

The role for women needs to be expanded, but women are simply not to lead men as ‘pastors’. Just read the Bible.

Posted by Maria on Thursday, Sep 26, 2013 2:47 PM (EDT):

This excommunication stands as a severe wake-up call for this priest. He said he didn’t expect to be excommunicated. Apparently he thought he could continue to defy Church teaching and get away with it. Now, it is time for him to reflect very seriously on the state of his soul and to seek out a saintly confessor who can help him see how Satan has blinded him and fooled him.

Posted by Mariann on Thursday, Sep 26, 2013 12:20 PM (EDT):

In glancing over the comments, it is good to see that for the most part, men are grateful for the justice in the Pope’s action while women for the most part are seeking mercy for sinner and all those who were led astray by the sinner. This is very good for us to be fulfilling the different persons God made, “...male and female…” God is All-Just; God is Mercy. Thanks be to God!

Posted by Graeme Reid on Thursday, Sep 26, 2013 9:55 AM (EDT):

Pope Francis did the right thing! There’s more than one priest that should be at least repremanded or evangelized. Some years ago, one priest helping out in our parish in the same state of Australia, said during a homily regarding woman priests - it will have to happen one day; and he said regarding new Catechisms being sold at the back of the church - Don’t buy one as they are too hard for the ordinary person to understand; and he held confession after Mass where he wanted only one sin to
be told and he would he said - forgive the lot; and people queued up. And on going to confession at a seminary on Good Friday where perhaps hundreds of people were queued up after the service I was told in confession - Oh just give us a few off the top - and - Oh everyong is doing that sort of thing and recieved the revolving door treatment.
And later there was the parish priest who was sitting in the back of the church in his vestments as we entered. We genuflected and he during the
homily said - there are a couple of prima donnas here today; and, anyone who believes that if you make the first five saturdays (as prescribed), “something wonderful will happen”, is “pure superstition”. He stopped the reading and chastised the reader for reading out the red heading above the verses; He stampeded up and down the aisle of the church as he was disgruntled about the confusion in the new way in which the Eucharist was to be received as he didn’t want people genuflecting or
kneeling to receive, and he demonstrated in the middle of Mass, the tiny bow we are supposed to do to the back of the person in front of us as they are receiving, he took great pains to emphasize what he wanted and didn’t want in a way that indicated total disrespect for the Eucharist. The experience kept us, and no doubt others away from Mass for years. I was told by a previous parish priest though, that a bad batch of priests went through the seminary who were initially passed by a feminist nun while good candidates were rejected.—- Well, there are still some of theformer around and the one Pope Francis excommunicated is likely one of them. I think a lot of priests need to start with respect for the Eucharist and insist those who receive it, receive it worthily by being in the state of grace - by forgiving sins in confession properly, for the forgiviness of sins, is the reason Christ suffered, and died on the cross.

Posted by celinedesilva on Thursday, Sep 26, 2013 9:38 AM (EDT):

IT’S ABOUT TIME.

OUR LORD AND SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST WHO REDEEMED US BY HIS INCARNATION, PASSION AND DEATH ON THE CROSS AND HIS RESURRECTION; WHO IS INFINITE LOVE AND MERCY PERSONIFIED SAID:

[26] ...Amen I say to thee, thou shalt not go out from thence till thou repay the last farthing.
[27] You have heard that it was said to them of old: Thou shalt not commit adultery.
[28] But I say to you, that whosoever shall look on a woman to lust after her, hath already committed adultery with her in his heart.
[29] And if thy right eye scandalize thee, pluck it out and cast it from thee.
For it is expedient for thee that one of thy members should perish, rather than that thy whole body be cast into hell.

IT IS THE SACRED DUTY OF THE VICAR OF CHRIST TO
[30] And if thy right hand scandalize thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is expedient for thee that one of thy members should perish, rather than that thy whole body be cast into hell.

IT IS THE AWESOME AND GRAVE DUTY AND RESPONSIBILITY OF THE VICAR OF CHRIST ON EARTH TO PRESERVE, DEFEND, PROTECT AND SPREAD THE UNCHANGING GOSPEL AND AUTHENTIC MAGISTERIUM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH AS PASSED DOWN THROUGH THE AGES BY THE APOSTLES

Posted by Michel Lhombreaud on Thursday, Sep 26, 2013 9:19 AM (EDT):

My question is: how can someone whose vocation to the priesthood must have been genuine turns up to be ill-equiped to discern lies from the truth? I think the irresponsibility of Bishops, worldly seminaries and so-called enlightened theologians contributed to the corruption of Father Reynolds soul.

Posted by Gary on Thursday, Sep 26, 2013 9:18 AM (EDT):

May the Lord grant this former priest the grace of conversion.

Posted by DeCarlo on Thursday, Sep 26, 2013 7:51 AM (EDT):

If you don’t believe in the teachings of the Catholic church, which are really the teachings of Jesus and the New Testament, please leave the church and find a denomination with which you believe.

Posted by James on Thursday, Sep 26, 2013 7:47 AM (EDT):

I’m confused. If you don’t agree with the teachings of the Catholic Church then why not just go elsewhere? It’s like the homosexual mayoral candidate in New York who demanded to be given the Eucharist even while “married” to her partner. If she was a true Catholic, she would be fully aware that she was living in sin and wouldn’t dare to take the Eucharist in her state. These people are obviously progressing their own agenda…the priest’s being a religious (clearly Protestant) agenda, the mayoral candidate’s part of the liberal gay agenda. Why not just go be a Methodist if you want to be gay and take the Eucharist?

Posted by lroy on Thursday, Sep 26, 2013 6:45 AM (EDT):

I have a feeling this is just “the tip of the iceberg”. There are many priests-nay even US bishops-who would fall under this category if I had my say. To allow priests to give Eucharist to ardent pro-abortion “Catholic” politicians like Nancy Pelosi also deserves excommunication (as a last resort).

Posted by Allen on Thursday, Sep 26, 2013 5:20 AM (EDT):

Excommunication is reserved for the defiantly unrepentant, and can be lifted if the recipient repents. Excommunicated individuals are still bound to the Church, though the relationship is admittedly gravely impaired. They are still required to attend Mass on days of obligation, support the Church financially, etc., though they are barred from receiving the Eucharist.

People calling for the excommunication of priests accused or convicted of child abuse usually fail to realize that excommunication is neither expiatory nor vindictive in nature. Juridically speaking, the proper action is laicization or so-called “defrocking”. Only if the priest were to admit his guilt but refuse to repent of his grave sin - and child abuse is one of the most grave sins I can think of - would he be a candidate for formal excommunication. Otherwise, he’s laicized. That’s why we see the Church “defrocking” priests convicted of child and/or sexual abuse around the world today, but no formal excommunications. And I wouldn’t expect one to happen anytime soon, either.

As was noted in the article, Greg Reynolds was expecting “to be dismissed from the clerical state”, i.e. laicized. Why he was also excommunicated remains something of a mystery, though I speculate it was because he remained adamant in his open and, frankly, scandalous defiance of Church doctrine.

According to Mr. Reynolds, he was acting according to his conscience. Well, when your conscience contradicts Church teachings, you have two options: (a) admit that you’re wrong and try to find out where the problem in your thinking resides, or (b) leave the Church of your own free will.

Christ did not come to establish an earthly democracy. He came to inaugurate the Heavenly Kingdom. If you don’t like that, you don’t belong in His Church.

Posted by barbara stall on Thursday, Sep 26, 2013 4:30 AM (EDT):

The “spirit” and purpose of Vatican II was waylaid by those in the church who were freemasons, and the “smoke of Satan” entered the Church at that time. Confusion among the faithful reigned and many priests started to become more liberal. I remember a priest telling my sister-in-law that if it felt like a sin, it was a sin. What if a person does not have a properly formed conscience? That was in the 70’s. The practice today of putting the tabernacle in another room of the church away from the congregants is an offense to Our Lord. No wonder so many of our priests and bishops have strayed from the true faith. A famous seer, Theresa Neuman, from Bavaria, Germany, who was alive in the 20th century once confided that the practice of having unconsecrated Eucharistic ministers handing out consecrated hosts was an offense to Our Lord as only consecrated priests should handle the sacred Host. This is the way it was before Vatican II. The Latin masses were sacred and tabernacle was always central and in plain view on the altar as it should be. So we are clearly living in prophetic times. As Catholic faithful, we are required to make restitution to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary in these dangerous times. Pray the rosary every day for our clergy. They are always under attack. May God keep granting us Mercy during these dark times.

Posted by Vance on Wednesday, Sep 25, 2013 11:28 PM (EDT):

Kudo’s to Pope Francis for protecting the church and the faithful. How many people has this monster deceived and how much damage has he caused? I read about this creature about two years ago. This excommunication should have happened back then. Better late than never. Nancy Pelosi, Joe Bidden, John Kerry and other like minded Marxists who call themselves Catholics should receive that same letter from the Pope.

Posted by John on Wednesday, Sep 25, 2013 11:13 PM (EDT):

Anne Buckner and the priest, you are just wrong in everything. The body organs as created by God have very specific uses, functions and purposes, maybe you would like to confirm this with kids doing their introduction to Biological studies in schools. sodomy is such a filthy act such that God did not want to write it down in the Ten commands but wanted to act by burning and destroying the two cities, please if you may confirm this with your Bibles, it appears the priest read a Bible that the particular chapter was omitted. Please give directions to the Zoo where animals do it, i grew up on a farm in Africa and even the wild animals know the Biological application of all the body parts and accord the respect due to them.
I am sorry readers to sound this rough but the equation of a sodomite excommunicated priest to Christ is the most repugnant comment i have read all my life, Anne Buckner please repent!!!!.

Posted by Daryl on Wednesday, Sep 25, 2013 10:34 PM (EDT):

In actuality, the priest excommunicated himself by his acts.

Posted by Marcus on Wednesday, Sep 25, 2013 9:57 PM (EDT):

Anne Buckner,

You are quite wrong to think that Greg and his group are more Christlike. Christ had very stern words about people who lead others astray to follow the father of lies.

Being Christlike is not merely being nice and inclusive.

So many people mis-interpret the Gospel thinking that it is about inclusivity and niceness. It isn’t. The Gospel is Christ Himself. And if we believe in Christ, then we will believe in all He said and did. It is not an accident that He established a Church and He made this Church hierarchical. Pride and disobedience is at the root of original sin and pride and disobedience is in amply display in this story.

Posted by Robert Easterling on Wednesday, Sep 25, 2013 9:20 PM (EDT):

How about excommunicating all those wayward politicians claiming to be good Catholics…. I think this really needs to be done. It makes the Church look like it is saying that it is O.K. to be a abortion promoting politician..among other corrupt things they promote.

Posted by Janet Revers on Wednesday, Sep 25, 2013 7:34 PM (EDT):

WWJD? What would Jesus Do? Seeing some of these comments is really daunting. If we are Catholics, why are some of us putting additional insult to others. Comments like “what a joke” and “good riddance” doesn’t come into play of what Jesus Christ would say. I pray that all of us can have a loving and Christ-like conversation.

My opinion about this is, yes, he should be excommunicated for his actions. This is what we entrusted our religious leaders to follow and show the congregation about the church’s teaching.

Posted by John Copple on Wednesday, Sep 25, 2013 7:28 PM (EDT):

What was he thinking? Pope Francis is a tolerant man but to go against the Church this fool was damning himself to hell for an eternity. I don’t think that an Act of contrition at the time of death will save this fool. Pray for him and all of his cohorts for they face the same fate if they continue. Damnation for eternity is forever. Wake up and get these sins forgiven by the Pope for this is your only hope.

Posted by dancingcrane on Wednesday, Sep 25, 2013 6:32 PM (EDT):

Pope Francis is doing the same thing he was doing when he was being the media’s darling. He is telling the truth about the faith and the Church. All have been redeemed, all have a chance at salvation, if they choose to accept the gift, even if they come to the vineyard at the last hour. But the wolves in sheep’s clothing that are tearing at the flock and teaching against the Church, must be given medicine, which is what excommunication is. It is painful and nasty to give as well as receive, but it is necessary.

It stands to reason that a dissident will see only another dissident as a real Christian.I wonder how much such people know of this former priest, or if simply being a dissident is all you need to be a ‘real Christian’. It’s no surprise that many people liked Pope Francis as long as the media could paint him as one. Please pray for all involved.

Posted by Bob on Wednesday, Sep 25, 2013 5:20 PM (EDT):

Good riddance. “You shall not pass,” to those who continue to defy authority: eccleisal and the clear moral teaching of God in the Bible (see the 10 commandments and proscriptions against sodomy).

Posted by Anne Buckner on Wednesday, Sep 25, 2013 4:54 PM (EDT):

Exactly why I left the Catholic Church. This excommunicated priest is more Christ like than any of the so-called “Catholics.” And to think I was actually starting to like this new Pope. Figures.

Posted by Johnathan on Wednesday, Sep 25, 2013 4:27 PM (EDT):

I think we need a balance here. Justice & mercy are two sides of the same coin.

Posted by Raff on Wednesday, Sep 25, 2013 4:27 PM (EDT):

Priests that prey on children should also be included

Posted by Janet O'Connor on Wednesday, Sep 25, 2013 3:58 PM (EDT):

Thank you for talking about this important action of Francis coming on the heels of his recent strong words about abortion, it is obvious the media and secular press as well as the dissidents shot themselves in the foot in the aftermath of the so called BIG INTERVIEW, they missed two many bigger points he made. You have to read the whole interview yourself in its entirety and not even listen to ANYTHING the MSM says because as we saw with Benedicts words on condoms they are being SPUN so don’t follow them whether its the print TV or Radio. Get your news from ONLY RELIBLE Catholic news sources. They have an agenda with the Pope and the Church just as they do with Obama and his cronies. Stay away from them.

Posted by Brandon on Wednesday, Sep 25, 2013 3:20 PM (EDT):

@“Bishop” James Alan Wilkowski

evangelical catholic church? LOL, what a joke.

Posted by Jacque on Wednesday, Sep 25, 2013 2:14 PM (EDT):

Thank God for our strong, fearless Pope. What an abomination! Thank God this is being handled. How dare they do this to our precious Lord. May God have mercy on them and forgive them. I pray they repent before its too late.

Wow!!! Let the CATHOLIC Pharisees come out!! They must be happy to hear news like these

Posted by DeCarlo on Wednesday, Sep 25, 2013 1:22 PM (EDT):

Jesus said, when a tree doesn’t produce you cut it down. Where is the mercy there? God is merciful but He is also just.

Posted by DeCarlo on Wednesday, Sep 25, 2013 1:20 PM (EDT):

Holly, pro-abortionists are pro-murder. The pope should tell them to confess that mortal sin and sin no more. These popes since Vatican II don’t have the guts that they once had before Vatican II.

Posted by Rober on Wednesday, Sep 25, 2013 1:19 PM (EDT):

Now follow suit and excommunicate the pedophiles as well.

Posted by Holly on Wednesday, Sep 25, 2013 1:13 PM (EDT):

I am ashamed of the way some of responses like DeCarlo are. We are missing the love and mercy of the sacraments and by showing ignorance you are ignoring Christs teaching as well as the church and inviting Satan into your hearts. I invite all Catholics to pray with me on this sacrilege that Satan leaves the heart of this former priest and any of those lead astray, let those bountiful in the heart of our Catholic Faith, minister to all those effected so that our church becomes stronger and more united because of it.

I ask for the intercession of the communion of saints, angels and Mary, mother of Christ.

I humbly ask that God rectify this tragedy through the blood of His son, Lord Jesus Christ.

This is a disturbing and tragic story. If ONE priest could fall so far from grace and the practice of faith, how much more those he has led into grave falsehood and sacrilege. Pray that other priests remain faithful and obedient to the Magisterium. Without her guidance, our church is doomed to self interpretation and worse consequences than what this ONE priest has already done.

Posted by K.C.Thomas on Wednesday, Sep 25, 2013 12:32 PM (EDT):

It is the right thing the Pope hpas done. Let those who do not subscribe and believe in the Church teachings leave the Church instead of playinf fool in church premises.

Posted by DeCarlo on Wednesday, Sep 25, 2013 12:17 PM (EDT):

Great News!!! He should excommunicate all pro-choice Catholics too.

Posted by Richard Clifford on Wednesday, Sep 25, 2013 12:16 PM (EDT):

I can’t believe that a priest would go against the teachings of the church for the sake of being all inclusive. It stinks.

We need to pray for this defiant priest but let us not forget HIS VICTIMS. Those poor souls helped along the path to destruction by his waywardness in pride. As a Catholic priest, he has not only scandalized the faithful but he damaged the beautiful Body of Christ (His Church). Hopefully he will ‘thirst’ to be reunited with Christ’s Church and obediently submit his will to the Magisterium’s: which IS the the Voice of Christ Himself.
I can’t help thinking,“to whom much is given, much is expected”. Forgiveness is always there for him and us:
he knows this-we all know this! A daily ‘check’ of ourselves with the help of Gods grace will reveal our weaknesses. That’s why our Church asks us to examine our consciences daily before bed. I judge not his heart but his actions. I thank God for the moral courage of this Pope to lead the way in removing bad priests from ministry. It is not charitable to leave him unchecked. Padre Pio advises us to pray always. My prayer is that more Bishops will follow in the footsteps of the Bishop of Rome and exercise the duties of their office.
Sorry for sounding off- this is very close to my heart.
We have a wrong sense of Charity toward the unrepentant sinner.

Posted by Don Schenk on Wednesday, Sep 25, 2013 10:44 AM (EDT):

But the liberal media insists that Pope Francis doesn’t care about that stuff. (What he actually said was that Catholicism is so much more than the liberals’ favorite sins.)

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